Staff Profile

Career Summary

Biography

The combination of an industrial science/engineering background and research higher degree studies within health science (medicine) has provided me with a good understanding into the practical applications and importance of investigation and objective testing for evidence based medicine. My current position is as an NHMRC Early Careeer Research Fellow in the Department of Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology at the Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital site. I co-ordinate and conduct randomised controlled trials into snake envenoming and associated antivenom/placebo-controlled trials, medication overdose pharmacology and characterisation of medication toxicity. I am particularlly interested in neuropathic disorders and neuropathic medication profiling.

My previous research role was based in Respiratory Medicine investigating the causes and mechanisms involved in refractory chronic cough. I developed objective cough testing at the HMRI research facility and in the department of respiratory medicine at John Hunter Hospital. I like to approach my research from a clinical perspective when feasible by being actively involved in the testing and collection of data from research participants. Analysing the subsequent data is always interesting and the translation of findings into practical application.

Qualifications

PhD (Medicine), University of Newcastle, 05/08/2011

Bachelor of Science, University of Newcastle, 20/09/1996

Research

Research keywords

Science based

Research expertise

I have recently (early 2014) had a change in my research focus by commencing a post-doctoral research fellow position with the Clinical Toxicology & Pharmacology research group located at the Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital site. Here I continue to develop my interest in the assessment of the efficacy and safety of drug therapy. During my PhD I completed a randomised controlled trial looking at the effectiveness and adverse effects of gabapentin medication in the treatment of chronic cough. The snake and spider studies that I now investigate have provided me with the opportunity to conduct three more RCTs testing the effects of medications.

My prior research focus was in the identification and treatment of patients with refractory and idiopathic chronic cough. Ten years of research in this area led to the significant finding that laryngeal hypersensitivity is common in refractory chronic cough patients and that this can be successfully treated with neuropathic medications such as gabapentin or by behavioural techniques such as speech pathology and cough suppression techniques.

Fields of Research

Code

Description

Percentage

111506

Toxicology (Incl. Clinical Toxicology)

60

111502

Clinical Pharmacology And Therapeutics

40

Memberships

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

Member - ASMR

Appointments

NHMRC Early Career Clinical Research FellowUniversity of Newcastle (Australia)

01/05/2014

Awards

Research Award.

2012

HMRI Early Career Travel AwardHMRI (Australia)HMRI Early Career Travel Award (International)

Teaching

Teaching keywords

Teaching expertise

PhD candidiate (thesis submitted December 2010) in Respiratory Medicine Research focusing on patients with chronic cough.

Brief teaching role at Newcastle TAFE to 3rd and 4th year Applied Science (Chemistry) students.

I expect to become more involved with PhD student projects within the snake bite project and other areas of clinical toxicology and will therefore receive valuable experience in the supervision of students to develop my career independence even further.